B.C. wants to know: Should distracted drivers have their car impounded, licence suspended?

As the B.C. government takes public feedback on increasing or decreasing the penalties for distracted driving, the attorney general says she’s considering more than just upping fines.

Suzanne Anton told reporters on Tuesday the government is also looking for feedback on imposing roadside sanctions, similar to those imposed for impaired drivers, such as impounding vehicles and suspending licences.

“If you are a distracted driver, if you are on your cell phone, and especially if you are on it more than once, should we be considering suspending your licence, and if so, what would the right length of suspension be?”

Of the 12,000 people who have provided feedback so far, Anton says 90 per cent support increasing fines from the current $167, which is the second lowest fine in Canada.

I do not agree with people using their devices whilst driving. However, I do not agree with ICBC getting half of the impound money either. It should not be about money, yet some consequences should be on hand. Suspend all cell phone use for 7 days and a driving prohibition should start as a suffice punishment! Have the provider suspend the account and if caught with another phone in the vehicle up the driving prohibition.

The readers Church mouse Ken280: You keep making errors with GO NDP GO. You mean to say GO GREENS GO, the party that you vote for at election time just like the morning water pill you take each morning.

What does it matter how heavy the fines are if the authorities are too busy to hand out tickets. Sure they will have 24 hour blitz this summer and then yawn. If the public can see phones being used 20 , 30 , 50 times a day why cant the police. Stand at Georgia and Burrard for 30 minutes and you would get writers cramp writing tickets. The problem being VPD cannot “spare a man ” for 30 minutes a day.

Drinking and driving use to be the most dangerous offence in a vehicle. Now they say texting and driving is. The law got tough on DUI so why not get tough on distracted driving. A hacking driver ploughed into my 16 year old daughters car. It was parked along the curb on the opposite side of the street. He hit her head on.

If you start increasing the fines please note there are allot of people who have thick wallets/purses. The existing fines are fine a 24 hour suspension for first offence, 48 hours or second offence, court after that.

I love the idea of a unique “yellow” licence plate for dangerous drivers. This should be considered for people who have previous DUI/24 hours suspensions, at fault for accidents causing harm or exceed a maximum number of points per year. This is required to be mounted on any car they drive

If we brought in German style driving qualifications . . . 1/3 of the presently licensed drivers would be riding transit . . . maybe even you Dang !

Will it ever change? Not a chance, imagine how many body shops would close, ICBC would lay off half their staff, insurance offices would close and car dealers would see a noticeable % of sales disappear . . .